send it to the house of representatives where the president says the house speaker john boehner should put it on the floor, regardless if it gets the majority of the majority. that's the traditional way of doing things. the president said if any of the process fails, any of the steps along the way we outline, a senate agreement, vote in the senate, moving to the house, if it fails, the president wants a basic bill on the floor that sets those income levels at $250,000 above, to have everyone have their taxes rice rice. a lot of ifs and but, a flurry of last-minute activity, focused on the congressional leaders in the wes wing of the white house. >> like you said it will take a badda bing, badda boom to get this done. >>> joining me now is ed o'keefe and staff writer for "roll call," jonathan strong. thank you, both, for being here. i want to listen to more of what the president said on friday. i'll ask you about it on the other side. let's listen. >> i just had a good and constructive discussion at the white house with senate and house leadership about how to prevent this tax hike on t